...She is missing the tip of her ear, has broken teeth and a broken toe, injuries Sutherland said were caused when what little food was given to the dogs was thrown over a fence, causing food fights. Many of the dogs are even missing their tongues, he said.

I got a dog for my mom before I went to school out of state. Thought it would be good for her to have a companion around the house. We got the dog from a shelter and it was pretty obvious she'd been mistreated before she got there but was good natured and all around a great dog. I would come back during the summers from school to work and the most difficult thing was leaving to go back to school in fall. It was about 10 hours by car and we couldn't take the dog. So we'd drop her off for a 2 day stint in the kennel. She would shake and cry and then just freeze when the (very nice) folks at the kennel would take her to the back. Maybe it was all an act for sympathy, but I've never seen an animal display such obvious fear.

/killed me every time//dog is now 13 and slowing down but still awesome.

My rat dog is afraid of slippery floors. He struggles to get the courage to cross the kitchen half way to the mat in front of the sink. Whew! He made it!

The only time he ever stopped being afraid was after we took him on a canoe trip and the little guy was forced to do some swimming. We had him out on a very large sandbar where the dogs had room to run around. There was a fast moving section of the shallow water that he tried to cross to get to the island where we had the canoe sitting. He got washed 40 yards downstream in about 15 seconds time and he was forced to figure out how to use all his legs to swim. He made it! The little dude swam against the current and into an eddy where he swam back to the sandbar. He was freaked a little, but he was very different for the rest of the day. He was no longer timid about anything. When we got home he was all over the kitchen floor and didn't even think about it.

I'm convinced the success of saving himself had made him more confident.

I agree. Kinda funny though so don't beat yourself up - have a treat instead. May I suggest an organic treat made from gluten free wheat?

Seriously, I never understood the relationship between man and dogs. I always thought of it as a negotiation or boss / worker thing.But since we got our little dogs, I finally get it. Now I fully understand how people of all stripes will go broke trying to keep their dog alive. I get it. I don't agree with it but I can see why.

If my wife loved me as much as our dogs love me, I would be the envy of men everywhere.

I hope this center is successful and they can open more around the country. Fear in animals is so misunderstood and many undesirable behaviors, including aggression, actually stem from fear.

My shelter pup Tilly came with issues from her previous owner but I could tell right away she was just scared and insecure, and after sitting quietly with her for a few minutes she warmed up to me. It was rough at times in the beginning and we still have to crate her when guests come over because she goes into defensive mode and barks at them nonstop (she's a terrier mix, so I'm not surprised). Tilly is especially fearful of men and went from barking at my boyfriend every time he entered the room and peeing every time he tried to pet her to being his BFF, going to Starbucks and on Jeep rides on the weekend.

If a behavioral center like this can help animals overcome their fear and get into loving homes (and reduce dog bite incidences), I'm 110% for it!

I swear to god I hope we don't ever meet our new dog's former owners. I LIKE not having a felony record.

The foster group told us she was neglected, and they suspected abuse (she was surrendered to a shelter, and a foster group took her in, we got them from her), but I'm almost *CERTAIN* there was abuse. She starts at any loud noise or angry voice, used to curl up, cower, and pee if strangers came over (Now she barks at them initially: IMPROVEMENT! Yaay.), and is still INCREDBILY skittish when we are outside on walks (its as though she becomes afraid of me, my fiance, and EVERYTHING). And she was so skinny you could see her ribs when we got her (the foster group hadn't had her long enough to put much weight on her). This isn't a greyhound, either.

Thankfully, she's only a year old, and she's steadily improved in the few months we've had her, and she gets along well with the other dog (Even if he's a biatcheaty when they play).

angry bunny:I got a dog for my mom before I went to school out of state. Thought it would be good for her to have a companion around the house. We got the dog from a shelter and it was pretty obvious she'd been mistreated before she got there but was good natured and all around a great dog. I would come back during the summers from school to work and the most difficult thing was leaving to go back to school in fall. It was about 10 hours by car and we couldn't take the dog. So we'd drop her off for a 2 day stint in the kennel. She would shake and cry and then just freeze when the (very nice) folks at the kennel would take her to the back. Maybe it was all an act for sympathy, but I've never seen an animal display such obvious fear.

/killed me every time//dog is now 13 and slowing down but still awesome.

I don't think you should feel bad because sometimes your dog just has to go to a kennel. But most dog behaviorists have concluded that dogs don't have advanced plans like 'an act for sympathy'. Generally, dogs repeat behavior that gets them what they want and other than that they pretty much just wear their emotions on their face.

Also, I do think that bad, abusive owners can cause fear problems in any dog. I also think that bad breeding can cause extreme fear problems even without abuse. So don't be 100% sure somebody beat your dog when they run and hide because of a loud noise. When certain (horrible) people breed dogs they think are "tough" (and in reality the dog isn't tough- it acts aggressive because it is scared out of its mind) they are just breeding for fearful dogs. Which is why you should get your dog from a breeder who has a clue and understands dog behavior (and has a restrictive contract for you to sign) or from a shelter/rescue.